An anonymous email complaining about misconduct and lack of morals and integrity within the Socorro Police Department was sent to the city of Socorro months before the arrests of five Socorro police officers.

The lengthy email dates back to July. In it, the unnamed whistle-blower asked Socorro's city manager, William Norfleet, to investigate Lt. Jose Alvarez, Sgt. Refugio Orta, Detective Javier Varela, Officer Israel Delgado and Officer Bobby Correa.
The email was sent from an anonymous officer who said he speaks for the entire police department -- except  for the five police officers facing charges.

All of them are currently facing charges of official oppression. Alvarez and Delgado also face charges of tampering with government records and aggravated perjury.

The email states that "an officer was put on leave because he believed that a person's civil rights were being violated." That individual's name, whose right's were reportedly violated, was not mentioned in the email.

A third Socorro police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that the individual whose right's were believed to be violated is the same individual mentioned in the officer's complaint affidavits.  

The incident in the affidavits surrounds the arrest of a man named Victor Grijalva arrested on May 23. The arrest was allegedly made without probable cause and took place outside of a 7-Eleven at 602 Horizon Blvd.

KFOX News also received an email from Richard Zubiate who claims he was denied a job with the Socorro Police Department because he said gave the wrong answer to a hypothetical question during his interview. Zubiate said he affirmatively answered 'yes' when he was asked by Lt. Alvarez if he would turn in an officer who had beaten a suspect in handcuffs. 

"I knew I was done after that question. Things just went silent," said Zubiate.

KFOX News can not confirm if the voice in this recording is Zubiate. 

He said he later got an email from the department that said he had excellent qualification, but someone else better fit the position.

Zubiate recorded the conversation - https://rapidshare.com/files/128478895/2009%200421%201022%20hrs.mp4

Socorro city officials could not comment on Zubiate's claims, but admit they did received the anonymous email from the police officer.  Further investigation was not taken because the email could not be confirmed. 

"They say they are a police officer … they say, I mean, yes, you want to believe it, yes you want to work on it. How can you accuse somebody of an anonymous tip," said David Garcia, public information officer for the city of Socorro. 

Zubiate's interview was in 2009 and he currently resides in Utah. He is an El Paso native.